Every Martin Luther King Day brings a variety of thoughts and emotions for me – some years more than others. I don’t like saying “Happy MLK Day”. It feels awkward like when people say “Happy Memorial Day”. It’s not a happy day. All holidays aren’t meant to be happy or another sales opportunity.
I am happy that MLK Day is now a federal holiday thanks to so many who fought for it and pushed it through the legislative process. For me, it is a time of reflection on the pains of the past, acknowledgment of the gains made, gratitude for those who fought so vigorously for the life I am able to live, a reality check on where we are now and a clear focus on the work we have still have to do together.
I believe with age, you have the option to become wiser, but you have to be willing to let go and grow. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (or whatever we’re calling it now) continues to be a reality, not an option even though we still approach it like it’s optional. or an add-on.
Why is it so hard? Why is it taking so long? Why do people have to fight for equal access, equal opportunity, equal consideration, equal representation and equal respect? Why is it so hard to share power? What’s the threat? Who’s the threat?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? You know, if you ask why 5 times, you start getting closer to the root cause. But you also know, this is where it starts to get uncomfortable! This is where change becomes possible.
Yes this year, I am full of thoughts and emotions on MLK Day, I need to educate myself on history from many different viewpoints. I need to understand the past to better understand the present. I need to be a better researcher and go beyond the obvious. I need learn, not just be told. I can do better.
I need to challenge myself, get out of my comfort zone, reach out and be more inclusive and help those around me do the same. My words and actions are powerful and I need to use them for good. I can do more.
I need to be more intentional where I spend my money and better support small businesses. That’s more than civil rights. That’s economic rights! We need these businesses to thrive and grow into larger businesses. That’s an important step towards closing the economic gap. I can do more.
So, I know I have some work to do. You probably do too. MLK Day makes me think deeper and inspires me to take action to be better and do better. I have benefited from those who came before me and I want those who come after me to benefit as well. I have work to do. I want to do my part in creating a “more perfect union”.
The opportunity is and has always been right in front of us!
Watch the video.
A Few Select Quotes to Ponder/Thoughts to Consider
MLK: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Terri: A blind eye doesn’t mean it’s not there or that it can’t happen to you. It can.
MLK: “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy to a friend.”
Terri: Love always wins. If we are losing (and we are), it’s because we aren’t loving.
MLK: “The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind.”
Terri: You’ll never regret taking the high road. Don’t be easily provoked. You are in control of you.
MLK: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
Terri: Love can change anything and everything. Use your words for good.
MLK: “We must learn that passively to accept an unjust system is to cooperate with that system, and thereby to become a participant in its evil.”
Terri: You cannot choose to be uninvolved until it affects you directly. Our society is being formed with or without your participation.
MLK: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Terri: Your silence about things that matter will slowly eat away at your soul.
MLK: “We must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience.”
Terri: We must accept the consequences of the decisions that were made before us, the decisions that are being made by us now and the decisions that will be made after us. Our decisions always matter and have consequences beyond us.
MLK: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
Terri: People will always be imperfect and because of that, the systems we build and operate will be imperfect as well. But, we must keep hope in front of us. We can be better and do better together – if we really want to. We’ve done it before and we can do it again.
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